University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Second Annual Interdisciplinary Conference on Interdisciplinary Conference on Human Human Trafficking, 2010 Trafficking at the University of Nebraska 6-2010 MODERN SLAVERY: A REGIONAL FOCUS Amanda J. Gould University of Denver, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/humtrafconf2 Part of the Inequality and Stratification Commons Gould, Amanda J., "MODERN SLAVERY: A REGIONAL FOCUS" (2010). Second Annual Interdisciplinary Conference on Human Trafficking, 2010. 7. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/humtrafconf2/7 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Interdisciplinary Conference on Human Trafficking at the University of Nebraska at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Second Annual Interdisciplinary Conference on Human Trafficking, 2010 by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. MODERN SLAVERY: A REGIONAL FOCUS __________ A Thesis Presented to The Faculty of Social Sciences and The Dean and Faculty of the Josef Korbel School of International Studies University of Denver __________ In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Arts in Economics and Master of Arts in International Development __________ by Amanda J. Gould June 2010 Advisor: Dr. Markus Schneider and Dr. Haider Khan ©Copyright by Amanda J. Gould 2010 All Rights Reserved Author: Amanda J. Gould Title: MODERN SLAVERY: A REGIONAL FOCUS Advisor: Dr. Markus Schneider and Dr. Haider Khan Degree Date: June 2010 Abstract Kevin Bales, through his study in Understanding Global Slavery: A Reader, provides an important quantitative analysis on the predictive factors of modern slavery. Upon examining his study though, several issues arise including too few observations for several of the variables and the lack of a regional variable. The author decided to rerun his study with replacements for the problematic variables used previously. Upon obtaining the results from this, the author examined development theory (development is believed to be closely liked to slavery), and began creating an alternative model, which eventually included the addition of a regional variable. This model differed from Bales‘, but showed that region matters in predicting modern slavery and further examination of the regions separated out shows there are differences in what predicts slavery in various regions. The potential policy implications include targeting appropriate programs in a region to fight the issues might lead to slavery there. ii Table of Contents Chapter One: Introduction ...............................................................................................1 Definitions of Slavery ..........................................................................................1 The Nature of Modern Slavery .............................................................................4 Why Slavery Exists ..............................................................................................5 Why Does it Matter? ............................................................................................7 Chapter Two: Background ............................................................................................. 10 The Test ............................................................................................................. 13 Problems with the Study .................................................................................... 15 Issues with the Dependent Variable ........................................................ 15 Issues with the Independent Variables .................................................... 18 Our Study .......................................................................................................... 20 Chapter Three: Theory ................................................................................................... 22 Development Theory .......................................................................................... 24 Modernist ............................................................................................... 24 Marxist ................................................................................................... 27 Feminist ................................................................................................. 32 Neo-Liberal ............................................................................................ 36 Region ............................................................................................................... 40 What Region? ......................................................................................... 42 Limitations of Region ............................................................................. 43 Purpose of Theory and Region ........................................................................... 44 Chapter Four: Study....................................................................................................... 45 Step One ............................................................................................................ 46 Step Two............................................................................................................ 52 Step Three .......................................................................................................... 54 Step Four ........................................................................................................... 56 Determining a Good Model ................................................................................ 57 Chapter Five: Results ..................................................................................................... 60 Prelude ............................................................................................................... 60 Step One ............................................................................................................ 61 Step Two............................................................................................................ 65 Step Three .......................................................................................................... 68 Step Four ........................................................................................................... 69 Chapter Six: Conclusion, Implications and further research ........................................... 73 Conclusion ......................................................................................................... 73 Implications ....................................................................................................... 76 iii Further Research ................................................................................................ 77 References ..................................................................................................................... 78 Appendix A: Regional Groupings ................................................................................. 85 Appendix B: Elimination of India and Mauritania ......................................................... 86 iv CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION The study of modern slavery and human trafficking is still young. Until recently, the field focused almost exclusively on qualitative understandings and interpretations of the problem. While this illuminated some aspects of the issue, such a method could not answer questions such as ―how many slaves are there in the world?‖ or ―what factors are able to predict the scale of slavery in a country?‖ Both are the foci of a study done by Kevin Bales, who is a pioneer in the quantitative analysis of modern slavery. His study, detailed in Understanding Global Slavery: A Reader, sought to discover the factors that predict the scale of slavery in a country. While the study shows innovation, an in depth examination raises doubts. Perhaps most importantly, the study fails to consider the possibility of regional variation in the predictive factors of slavery. For example, while the percentage of the population under the age of fourteen might be significant in predicting slavery in Sub-Saharan Africa, it likely will not be in Europe. Without understanding and accounting for regional differences, the results of any study will misrepresent the nature of modern slavery. Such a mistake could ultimately lead to ineffective policies and programs. Definitions of Slavery Throughout history, the term slavery referred to many different types of exploitation. Among these are the sale of human organs, prison labor and prostitution (Bales 2000, 2-3). In some African countries, the term slavery only applies to the Trans- 1 Atlantic slave trade (van den Anker, Introduction: Combating Contemporary Slavery 2004, 1). Additionally, various laws and conventions define slavery and related practices differently, though this often reflects changes in common thought about the nature of slavery. The 1926 Slavery Convention, the first to outlaw slavery internationally, describes slavery as ―the status or condition of a person over whom any or all of the powers attaching to the right of ownership are exercised,‖ (United Nations 1926). The 1948 Universal Declaration on Human Rights added ―servitude‖ to slavery and the signatories agreed that ―(n)o one shall be held in slavery or servitude: slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms,‖